WASHINGTON — The Maryland and District of Columbia Credit Union Association has launched its largest advertising campaign, designed to educate consumers through the Maryland, Washington, D.C. metro, Baltimore metro and Northern Virginia regions about the benefits of joining a credit union.

LATHAM, N.Y. — One year after creating an employee incentive committee, Community Resource FCU has deployed a six-week long incentive program aimed at boosting accounts-per-member.

WASHINGTON — NCUA told Congress it expects growing losses on mortgages and member business loans to combine with billions of dollars of losses trickling down from troubled corporate credit unions to cause increasing credit union failures into 2010 and 2011.

You can't just offer a service today; you have to do it well. In today's hypercompetitive market, a key strategy for success is design. How do you know if you have a design problem? Research: ask, listen, and learn.

SAN DIEGO — First American CREDCO has introduced a consumer reporting solution it claims helps financials perform a faster and more accurate risk analysis on mortgage loans.

Alternative capital, alternative future?

It's very likely that at your credit union it's time for a good old-fashioned conversation between your staff and your members.

No two credit unions offer exactly the same products and services, and no two do everything in exactly the same way. When credit unions merge, the members of one or both of the credit unions are asked to adjust to some changes. Even when the net effect is beneficial, at least some members will be unhappy with at least some of the changes. Effective management of that inevitable discontent shortens the time it takes for the members to regard themselves as contented participants in the continuing, merged entity.

LAS VEGAS — Two long-time CEOs of credit unions here abruptly resigned their positions last week: Dan Paulson of WestStar CU and Tony Mook at Cumorah CU.

WASHINGTON — While CUNA was busy announcing it had reached an agreement with NAFCU on the parameters for alternative capital, NAFCU was just as busy suggesting the two trade groups had a ways to go before anyone should be making a cooperative victory lap.

HONOLULU – Unversity of Hawaii FCU said yesterday that Jeanine Morse, director of sales and marketing since 2007, is being promoted to succeed Ariel Chun as president and CEO of the $420 million credit union.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Topeka CU Foundation, comprised of six local credit unions, has contributed $8,000 to four local charities.

SAN ANTONIO – Security Service FCU is the first financial institution to offer its members access to MasterCard’s new MoneyManager online budget and debit card monitoring device.

OGDEN, Utah – America First CU said it has signed with Advanced Fraud Solutions to install the company’s TrueChecks counterfeit check detection system across all of its teller lines.

WALL STREET – NCUA completed a $4 billion public offering Wednesday of medium-term notes on behalf of U.S. Central FCU. The funds will be used to enhance liquidity for the troubled corporate credit union, which has been operated by NCUA under conservatorship since March 20, according to NCUA.

McLEAN, Va. – Mortgage rates rose slightly this week, but just above decades-lows, according to Freddie Mac.

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve announced it is shutting down three more check processing operations next month, furthering its plans to move all processing to a single center and making all checks considered "local" by the end of next year.

WICHITA – Fast-growing Credit Union of America, the state’s second largest credit union, said it plans to open three new branches by the end of next year, including a student-run branch.

TOPEKA – Credit Union 1 of Kansas and Credit Unions United announced yesterday they are combining to create the state’s third largest credit union, with almost $250 million in assets.